a very sexist remark (=making unfair differences between men and
women)

5 [in nouns] someone who treats people unfairly because of something:

They’re a bunch of racists.

-ity, -ty

-ity : also -ty [in nouns]

the state of having a particular quality, or something that has that
quality:

with great regularity (=regularly)\
such stupidities (=stupid actions or remarks)

-ive

-ive : [in nouns and adjectives]

someone or something that does something or can do something:

an explosive (=substance that can explode)\
a detective (=someone who tries to discover facts about crimes)\
the adoptive parents (=who adopt a child)

-ization, -isation

-ization also -isation British English :

makes nouns from verbs ending in -ize:

civilization\
crystallization

-ize, -ise

-ize also -ise British English : [in verbs]

1 to make something have more of a particular quality:

We need to modernize our procedures. (=make them more modern)\
Americanized spelling (=spelling made more American)\
privatized transport (=bus or train services that are owned and
operated by private companies)

2 to change something to something else, or be changed to something
else:

The liquid crystallized. (=turned into crystals )

3 to speak or think in the way mentioned:

to soliloquize (=speak a soliloquy, to yourself)\
I sat and listened to him sermonizing. (=speaking solemnly, as if in
a sermon)

4 to put into a particular place:

She was hospitalized after the accident.

-less

-less : [in adjectives]

1 without something:

I felt powerless.\
a childless couple\
tasteless food

2 not doing or using something:

You’re too careless.\
It’s perfectly harmless.

3 not possible to treat or affect in a particular way:

on countless occasions\
She’s tireless.

-like

-like : [in adjectives]

used after a noun to say that something is similar to or typical of the
noun:

a jelly-like substance\
childlike simplicity\
ladylike behaviour

-ly

-ly :

1 [in adverbs] in a particular way:

She smiled happily.\
He was walking slowly.

2 [in adverbs] considered in a particular way:

Politically speaking it was a rather unwise remark.\
a financially sound proposal

3 [in adjectives and adverbs] happening at regular periods of time:

an hourly check (=done every hour)\
They visit monthly (=once every month).

4 [in adjectives] like a particular thing in manner, nature, or
appearance:

with queenly grace\
a motherly woman (=showing the love, kindness etc of a mother)

-ment

-ment : [in nouns]

used to form a noun from a verb to show actions, the people who do them,
or their results:

the government (=the people who govern a country)\
the replacement of something (=the action of replacing something)\
some interesting new developments

-mental : suffix [in adjectives]

-ness

-ness : [in nouns]

used to form nouns from adjectives:

loudness\
sadness

-or

-or : [in nouns]

1 someone who does something or is doing something:

an actor (=someone who acts)\
an inventor\
a translator

2 something that does something:

a calculator (=a machine which calculates)\
a word processor

➔ -er2, -ar

-ous

-ous : [in adjectives]

describes something that has a particular quality:

dangerous (=full of danger)\
spacious (=with a lot of space)

-ery, -ry

-ery : also -ry (in nouns)

1 a quality or condition:

bravery (=the quality of being brave)\
slavery (=the condition of being a slave)

2 things of a particular kind:

machinery (=different types of machines)\
all her finery (=beautiful clothes)

3 a place where a particular activity happens:

a bakery (=where bread is baked)\
an oil refinery

-ship

-ship : [in nouns]

1 a particular position or job, or the time during which you have it:

He was offered a professorship (=the job of professor).\
in Mr Major’s premiership (=when he was prime minister)\
her application for British citizenship

2 the state of having something:

Private car ownership has almost doubled in the past 10 years.\
Their friendship developed soon afterwards.